Friday, January 11, 2013
Jan. 12 Wonder Bar concert will both honor Clarence Clemons and raise money for schools
It's the Big Man's birthday, but it's also a chance to help get local schools' music programs hitting the right notes again. With many local school facilities affected by Hurricane Sandy, organizers to the first "Clarence Clemons Day" concert are also raising money for programs where instruments and sheet music were damaged by the storm. The Wonder Bar in Asbury Park will host "Celebrating Clarence: The Big Man's Birthday Benefit" on Jan. 12 to honor Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band longtime saxophonist, who died in 2011. New Jersey newly declared "Clarence Clemons Day" is Jan. 11 — this year's will be the first celebration. Organizers announced: "This event will also serve as a benefit to raise money for local school district music …
Thursday, June 30, 2011
The Boss pays tribute to the Big Man
On June 21, Bruce Springsteen spoke at the funeral of his friend, confidant and E Street Band comrade Clarence Clemons in Palm Beach, Fla. Earlier today, Springsteen released the following on his website: This is a slightly revised version of the eulogy I delivered for Clarence at his memorial. I'd like to thank all our fans and friends who have comforted us over the past difficult weeks. FOR THE BIG MAN I've been sitting here listening to everyone talk about Clarence and staring at that photo of the two of us right there. It's a picture of Scooter and The Big Man, people who we were sometimes. As you can see in this particular photo, Clarence is admiring his muscles and I'm pretending to be nonchalant while leaning upon him. I leaned on …
Sunday, June 19, 2011
The bar, a frequent home of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, honors legendary saxophonist Clarence Clemons, who died on Saturday in Palm Beach, Fla.
The Stone Pony in Asbury Park opened at noon on Sunday to allow hundreds of fans to pay tribute to legendary saxophonist Clarence Clemons. Clemons, 69, the "Big Man" in Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, died Saturday night after suffering complications from a stroke on June 12. Springsteen and Clemons, who was 6-foot-4 and weighed 250 pounds, met at the Asbury Park bar in 1971, a story both men have told onstage for the past 40 years. Fans of all ages came to pay their respects to Clemons at the very stage where he and Bruce began playing together. Valerie Koelsch of Bear, Del., and Tony Tanzi of Ocean Township stood in front of the stage adorned with flowers, burning incense and photos, sharing memories of seeing Clarence perform live…
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Legendary E Street Band saxophonist died nearly a week after suffering a stroke in his Florida home
Clarence Clemons, 69, the legendary saxophone player who was the "Big Man" in Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, died Saturday night after suffering complications from a stroke. Springsteen, who began his nearly 40-year relationship with Clemons in Asbury Park, broke the news on his website, brucespringsteen.net, Saturday night, nearly a week after Clemons suffered a stroke on Sunday, June 12. Springsteen's connection with Clemons ran deep, performing with the saxophone player at arenas and stadiums around the world. But if Clemons was performing solo in Sea Bright, Red Bank, Belmar or Seaside Heights, there was always a good chance that Springsteen would jump on stage and join his good friend. Springsteen, in a statement on his website, …
Monday, June 13, 2011
Legendary E Street Band saxophonist fell ill in Florida home
Multiple news outlets are confirming that 69-year-old Clarence Clemons has suffered a stroke. The legendary saxophone player, a member of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, is "seriously ill" after having a stroke in his Florida home,Roger Friedman of showbizz411.com reports. He has been in failing health for several years. Clemons joined the E Street Band in 1972 and his meeting with Springsteen has become legend among fans, an evening that allegedly also inspired the events featured in the song "10th Avenue Freezeout." "A rainy, windy night it was, and when I opened the door the whole thing flew off its hinges and blew away down the street," Clemons recalled in an interview. "The band were on-stage, but staring at me framed in the …
Mickey Brewster
10:21 pm on Sunday, June 19, 2011
Having the opportunity to spend some moments with him at the Hospital for Special Surgery last year, I could see the pain he was in. We talked about Monmouth County, nothing about music, just what a nice place to live it is. Perhaps it was the situation most people are in there, kind of like your all "in it together" but it was really nice to not do the idol worship thing and he seemed relieved … more ›